Find out what’s happening with Parks and Rec on Orcas Island

Published 3:21 pm Monday, April 16, 2012

Director position now open

In May, Orcas Park and Rec District will receive its first ever tax distribution. In celebration of long awaited funding, a job description for the director of Orcas Island Park and Recreation District has been finalized.  The job will be advertised locally, online on park and rec job sites as well as in Bellingham, Seattle and Tacoma. A copy of the job description is posted at www.oiprd.org, under the “employment” tab.  Cover letters and resumes must be mailed to OIPRD, P.O. Box 575, Eastsound, WA 98245.  The application period will remain open until June 1. No email or faxed materials will be accepted or considered.

Buck Park transfer

Orcas Island School District and OIPRD have been working toward a property transfer of Buck Park to the parks and rec for several months. Included in the transfer will be assumption of water lease rights for irrigation for the ball fields and a document governing a shared use of school facilities that probably will include fields, gyms and some classroom spaces.

Agreements in principle on the transfer of Buck Park have been reached. There have been delays caused by easement issues on the Mt. Baker Road Project and a release of interest in Buck Park by the state.

“We will plan to go to an interim lease until the path clears so we are on the April 26 school board agenda for a lease finalization,” said Commissioner Bob Eagan. “We are determined to provide upkeep, make repairs, mow and maintain our soccer, baseball and softball fields and skateboard park for the 100’s of islanders who will use them this spring, summer and fall.”

OIPRD Commissioner Eagan and volunteer committee members Terry Turner and Greg Braun have been working on maintenance recommendations for Buck Park once OIPRD takes over from the school district. OIPRD intends to seek bids from local providers to repair the Skateboard Park, provide Sani-cans and trash management services, as well as mow and maintain the ball fields. Public announcement of the work is anticipated in May and will be published at www.oiprd.org with an effective start date of June 1.

Funhouse office

Orcas Island Park and Rec District and The Funhouse-Commons have moved closer to a formal agreement whereby TFC will provide a small dedicated office space for OIPRD with an outside entrance on the north side of their building. OIPRD plans to subcontract with TFC to complete the design work for the new online OIPRD registration and payment site, post the spring/summer recreational classes and programs, and manage the rollout and first registrants into the system.

Online features

On March 14, the five OIPRD commissioners and two staff from The Funhouse-Commons completed nearly 60 hours of training in a new on-line activity registration and payment program called ActiveNet. ActiveNet, used by San Juan Rec, as well as many other Park and Rec Districts nationwide, will enable OIPRD to host a one-stop shop for registration and payment for island facilities, programs and classes sponsored through OIPRD.

The ActiveNet system features individual accounts where customers and family members can register and pay for activities from their home computers or handhelds and access their secure accounts 24/7 online. Customers are charged a nominal credit card handling fee for classes paid for by credit card. They are able to cancel and receive online credits back to their credit cards or accounts. Cash and check customers will need to come to OIPRD offices in person and during business hours to register.

“The system has virtually unlimited capacity and may prove especially efficient when handling large registration tasks, like triathlons or runs, especially when off-islanders wish to register and pay for the on-island race months in advance,” said OIPRD Commissioner Ian Lister.  “Coaches and volunteers will be pleased to know that rosters plus email and emergency contacts will be readily accessible, insurance forms and waivers will be collected online and even hats and shirt sizes can be ordered, and paid for, in one transaction.”

OIPRD anticipates the system will be ready to “go-live” in testing this May.

This April, OIPRD hopes to finalize its accounting set up with San Juan County. In addition to county oversight, QuickBooks, business accounting software, is being used by OIPRD for its superior reporting capability and transparency when dealing with donated and designated funds. “From day one, we have wanted the ability to run information rich financial reports to drive our decision-making. QuickBooks capability and the compat

ibility with the ActiveNet downloads should make our accounting easier, more transparent and us less dependent on staff,” said OIPRD Commissioner Martha Farish.